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Wednesday, March 25, 2009: 9:30 AM
C302 (Georgia World Congress Center)
Sulfide generation by sulfate-reducing microorganisms is the major cause of reservoir souring and microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). The monitoring of sulfate-reducing microorganisms is typically carried out by cultivation based methods. Unfortunately, the majority of sulfate-reducing prokaryotes (SRP) in oil field samples are not readily viable in culture and it is widely accepted that the cultivation approach grossly underestimates population sizes by several orders of magnitude.
In this paper it is demonstrated that quantitative Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (qFISH) is yielding much improved results compared to culture-based methods and qFISH has started to unveil the true distribution of SRP in oil field systems. This technique is based on the selective fluorescence staining of ribosomes within phylogenetic groups of target organisms. Therefore, a pre-existing understanding of the link between phylogenetic identity and function is a prerequisite for a successful application of qFISH.
In addition, we have applied quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) as a step towards a further understanding of SRP’s role in the oil field. Compared to qFISH, the qPCR approach specifically targets functional genes involved in sulfate reduction. This paper presents proof-of-concept for the qPCR technique applied in enumeration of SRP in the Danish sector of the North Sea.
In this paper it is demonstrated that quantitative Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (qFISH) is yielding much improved results compared to culture-based methods and qFISH has started to unveil the true distribution of SRP in oil field systems. This technique is based on the selective fluorescence staining of ribosomes within phylogenetic groups of target organisms. Therefore, a pre-existing understanding of the link between phylogenetic identity and function is a prerequisite for a successful application of qFISH.
In addition, we have applied quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) as a step towards a further understanding of SRP’s role in the oil field. Compared to qFISH, the qPCR approach specifically targets functional genes involved in sulfate reduction. This paper presents proof-of-concept for the qPCR technique applied in enumeration of SRP in the Danish sector of the North Sea.